* The academic (not athletic) racial achievement gap at one Oak Park K-6 school was said to be “more unique” than at other schools — by its principal.

Is she more unique than other principals?

* A book I am working through is The Roots of National Socialism, by Rohan D’O. Butler (Dutton, 1942). It would be good reading for others, I think, especially by young folks who do not know Naziism was socialism — national socialism, as opposed to the international version run out of a building in Moscow.

The roots in question are heavily philosophical. The book is a tour de force showing the consequences had by ideas.

* We routinely object to senseless violence (it’s a consecrated phrase), but when do we hear praise for sensible violence?

On the football field is one place, but no guns allowed. The Bears’ Tank Johnson has done his time for gun violations and is suspended for several games at considerable monetary loss. I am assuming he had to promise not to go armed onto the field.